From 1976-78 Robert Conrad starred as Marine Corps fighter ace Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington in NBC's controversial World War II TV series, Black Sheep Squadron.

Black Sheep Squadron -- also known as Baa Baa Black Sheep -- featured tough-guy actor Robert Conrad as real-life WW II ace and Medal of Honor winner, Greg "Pappy" Boyington. With James Whitmore Jr., Dirk Blocker, W.K. Stratton, John Larroquette, Jeff MacKay, Larry Manetti, Simon Oakland, Dana Elcar, et al. in uniformed support, Black Sheep Squadron produced 37 episodes during its turbulent two-year run over the wild skies of prime time television.

Based on Book Baa Baa Black Sheep

Black Sheep Squadron was based loosely on the book Baa Baa Black Sheep by Gregory Boyington (1912-1988). Published by Putnam in 1958, Boyington's autobiography has been called more "sea story" than actual history.

In the book Boyington recounts his service with the American Volunteer Group (the Flying Tigers) in China, his four-month stint as the commander of VMF-214 (the Black Sheep Squadron), his 20-month confinement in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, and his subsequent liberation and return to the United States where President Truman awarded him the Congressional Medal of Honor.

TV Rights Bought by Universal Television

In 1976, Universal Television bought the TV rights to Baa Baa Black Sheep. Producing the series for Universal was Stephen J. Cannell, who would write many of the show's scripts.

The Cast

Playing the 30-year-old Greg "Pappy" Boyington was 41-year-old Robert Conrad, who despite his age was in top physical condition through a regular regimen of running and lifting weights. Joining Conrad in the cast were James Whitmore Jr. (Captain James Gutterman), Dirk Blocker (Lt. Jerry Bragg), W.K. Stratton (Lt. Larry Casey), Robert Ginty (Lt. T.J. Wiley), John Larroquette (Lt. Bob Anderson), Jeff MacKay (Lt. Don French), Larry Manetti (Lt. Bob Boyle), Simon Oakland (General Thomas Moore) and Dana Elcar (Colonel Thomas Lard).

Other regulars included Joey Aresco (Hutch), Red West (Master Sgt. Andy Micklin), Steve Richmond (Stan Richards) and Jeb Adams (Lt. Jeb Pruitt, an underage pilot). In order to give the series more sex appeal, four young actresses were added to the cast in 1977. Called "Pappy's Lambs," the quartet -- Denise DuBarry (Samanta Green Moore), Nancy Conrad (Nancy Gilmore), Brianne Leary (Susan Ames), Kathy McCullen (Ellie Kovaks) -- played Navy nurses stationed at the Black Sheep's base in the Solomon Islands. A kind of military version of Charlie's Angels, the girls served more as USO pinups than actual nurses.

Baa Baa Black Sheep Debuts

Baa Baa Black Sheep made its NBC television debut on September 21, 1976. The first episode, "Flying Misfits," introduced Marine aviator Greg Boyington and his quest to organize a new squadron eventually comprised of "a collection of misfits and screwballs." These brawling, hard-drinking Corsair pilots, we are told, later went on to become the terrors of the South Pacific.

Memorable Episodes

Many Black Sheep episodes begin with an official-looking black-and-white Universal newsreel. Such is the case with "The War Biz Warrior" (1/4/77), which features the newsreel "Hollywood Goes to War." In this memorable episode, James Darren plays Lt. Colonel Rod Towers, a motion picture idol who joins Boyington's outfit.

Other interesting episodes include "Presumed Dead" (a brainwashed pilot is programmed to kill high-ranking American officers at a staff meeting), "The 200-Pound Gorilla" (officer-hating Andy Micklin is promoted to warrant officer), "W*A*S*P*S" (a unit of women transport pilots pull temporary duty on the island) "Wolves in the Sheep Pen" (Pappy's outfit hook up with the V-28 Navy Wolves for a dangerous mission in the Slot) and "Hotshot" (an Army Air Forces P-38 Lightning pilot hopes to increase his "kill" score).

Notable guest stars include Kent McCord, Anne Francis, Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, Tim Matheson, Richard Jaeckel, Frank Converse and Peter Frampton. Rock star Frampton plays a coast watcher in the episode "A Little Bit of England" (4/6/78), in which he sings a few lines of "God Save the King."

A Rocky Television History

Baa Baa Black Sheep had a rocky television history. The show was canceled by NBC after only one season, but returned for a second under its new title Black Sheep Squadron following an intense lobbying effort by Robert Conrad and series creator Stephen J. Cannell.

Black Sheep Squadron ended its television run on September 1, 1978.

Historical Fiction

Baa Baa Black Sheep drew withering fire from a number of sources, with many critics labeling it as historical fiction. One of the show's more vocal detractors was Frank E. Walton, the former intelligence officer for VMF-214.

"Baa Baa Black Sheep...is as phony as a three-dollar bill," Walton reported in TV Guide (4/23/77). "You are led to believe that Baa Baa Black Sheep is an accurate representation of the Black Sheep Squadron -- how they were formed, what kind of men they were, how they lived and fought. Don't you believe it."

Also taking the series to task was Joe Foss, a WW II Marine fighter ace, who called Black Sheep "overdone and absurd," adding that "both boozing and women were nonexistent to most of us who served in this area of the Pacific."

Baa Baa Black Sheep -- historical warts and all -- is available on DVD.